Gum firm 'resists clean-up call'

BBC ^ | 05/05/05

[nypokerface]

Chewing gum-maker Wrigley has resisted calls from a number of UK councils to help pay for cleaning gum off streets.

The US group has instead offered to make an undisclosed "significant contribution" to a government fund to raise awareness about littering.

Local authorities have said it costs £150m a year to clean streets of discarded chewing gum.

Wrigley said it was working to tackle the problem, which it blamed on "irresponsible disposal".

It said it would contribute to a Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) scheme to prevent gum littering and make money available to councils for specific initiatives.

A company spokesman said: "A campaign to prevent gum littering and an innovation fund that councils can access to tackle the issue will be put into place during 2005 and Wrigley will be making a significant contribution to this campaign."

'Stigmatising'

Last month Liverpool city councillors called for a national 1p tax on gum to help clear up the mess it causes.

Westminster Council has also been pushing Wrigley to "take responsibility for the environmental impact" of its gum products, backing the call for a 1p levy per packet.

In February it hosted the first national "gum summit" in London, which discussed finding a way of producing biodegradable gum, proposed changes to litter laws, and a government levy or voluntary contribution to help pay for clean-ups and education campaigns.

Westminster's council cabinet member for streets, Alan Bradley, told the Financial Times that councils wanted Wrigley to come up with £9m for cleaning and education.

He did not agree with the firm being involved in awareness campaigns.

He said such campaigns should be "hard-hitting" and stigmatise the chewing of gum.

[TSgt]

Geeeeeezzzz.

Are they going to target God next for boogers wiped under desks and chairs?

[andyk]

Last month Liverpool city councillors called for a national 1p tax on gum to help clear up the mess it causes.

I'm at a loss for words. Nanny state bump!

[JerseyHighlander]

British Councils, jealous of American money and Singapores draconian littering laws.

How far they've fallen.

Since this is a UK thread, I'll add a rather funny website I was made aware of today: Defaced Tory election signs

[Rakkasan1]

God, guns, and gum (are banned from these premises)

[Paine in the Neck]

I'm not sure what the solution is but gum is definetely a problem. The sidewalk outside my store is covered in the stuff (not unique to me store, any urban environment will be the same). Besides being unsightly and unsanitary it costs me hundreds of dollars a year to clean gobs of it tracked into the store and squashed into the carpet. Gum-chewers have the same mentality as smokers -- when done simply drop your waste wherever you happen to be.

[ErnBatavia]

Singapores draconian littering laws.

It's been 17 or 18 years since I was there, but I seem to recall that you can't even buy chewing gum there.

[Gingersnap]

"He said such campaigns should be "hard-hitting" and stigmatise the chewing of gum."

I'm not much of a gum chewer since I think it looks suspiciously like bovine cud-chewing but this is completely insane. I'll bet this guy is just fine with the type of sexual activity that cost billions to deal with STDs, unwanted pregnancies, infertility, etc. but he wants to STIGMATIZE gum chewing!

We'd better be living in the last days because at this rate, the human race will be too stupid to breath in another generation or two.

[BlackRazor]

I was in Singapore in 1998, and at that time, gum was still illegal.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Is there no gum safety courses? They better get a blue ribbon panel to discuss this! ASAP! Maybe a 14 day cooling off period!

[Guillermo]

Maybe the idiots who throw their cigarette butts ALL OVER THE PLACE should be assessed a clean up fee.

That's a tax I could support.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Buy a high pressure water blaster and get to work you sniveling bum!

[LIConFem]

This is all the natural result of suits against firearms manufacturers here in the U.S. Utter frikkin' absurd!!

[Hegemony Cricket]

Uh, ok. Really, is this from the Onion? Cuz this is like way too funny to be for real....

[MD_Willington_1976]

They cane people for spitting and chewing gum in the streets in some asian countries, why not start with that...

[logic]

True, but at least cigarette butts don't stick to the bottom of your shoes and then make a mess everywhere!!!

[David Hunter]

He said such campaigns should be "hard-hitting" and stigmatise the chewing of gum.

Maybe they should try to stigmatise littering with chewed gum, rather than the 'chewing of gum'. Chewing sugar free gum actually helps to slow down tooth decay by stimulating the production of saliva and increasing the pH in the mouth. Acidic pH conditions in the mouth promote the growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria in dental plaque, which accelerates the progression of dental caries.

Once again, in order to prevent an illegal activity, a so called Conservative UK politician has deceided to stigmatise law abiding people too. This sort of indirectly effective policy is what I would expect from the bloody Labour party.

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[JeffAtlanta]

I'm not against a "clean up" tax levied against gum sales to go toward cleaning up the mess it makes. Its certainly not logical to fine a manufacturer however. Let the people that consume the product pay for the costs - not everyone else.

I know that is can get out of hand however. Cigarette taxes here in the US are already out of control and gasoline will be next.

This also opens the door to social engineering taxes such as a tax on foods with high sugar or high fat content because of the burden on society that they cause.

You know what, forget the tax it causes more problems than it solves - if chewing gum is really that big of a problem, just make it illegal. First the gov't should try a advertising campaign that informs the public that if gum disposal attitudes don't change within 3 months then it will become illegal.

[pbmaltzman]

He said such campaigns should be "hard-hitting" and stigmatise the chewing of gum.

Gawd, if only something or somebody would stigmatize the chewing of gum... particularly in places where people have to be squashed in together like sardines in a can... such as in classrooms, airplanes, movie theaters, etc.--and also where you have customer service personnel who now chew gum in their customers' faces with impunity.

I know that some people claim that constant, rude, loud chewing helps them to concentrate... but believe me, it drives a lot of the rest of us crazy having to contend with the sight, sound, and smell of gum chewing, and it kills a lot of other people's concentration!